Week 12 Preview: Akron Travels to Bowling Green for Season Finale on ESPNU

Tuesday, November 18

Bowling Green, OH

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Bowling Green

Week 12 Preview: Akron Travels to Bowling Green for Season Finale on ESPNU

November 16 | Football

Game 12 – Akron Zips (4-7, 3-4 MAC) vs Bowling Green (3-7, 1-5 MAC)

WHATS AHEAD
Akron is in its final week of regular season play, traveling to Bowling Green Ohio for a midweek #MACtion game on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. on ESPNU with Shawn Kenney (PxP) and Je'rod Cherry (Analyst) calling the action.

TV: ESPNU - Shawn Kenney (PxP) and Je'rod Cherry (Analyst)
Radio: Akron Sports Network - (iHeart Radio,) - David Skoczen (pxp) and Joe Dunn (analyst)
WHLO 640 AM (flagship), WHK 1420 AM/102.5 FM, iHeart Radio, TheVarsityNetwork.com
Video Link: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required)
Live Stats Link: www.GoZips.com

HEAD COACHES
Bowling Green (3-7, 1-5 MAC)
Eddie George (Ohio State, 2001)
at Bowling Green (1st): 3-7
Overall (5th): 27-29

Akron Zips (4-7, 3-4 MAC)
Joe Moorhead (Fordham, 1996)
at Akron (4th): 12-35
Overall (10th): 64-60

SERIES HISTORY
Last Meeting: BGSU def. Akron, 27-20 (Akron, Ohio – Oct. 5, 2024)
Last Meeting in Bowling Green: BGSU def. Akron, 41-14 (Kent, Ohio – Oct. 21, 2023)
Last Meeting in Akron: BGSU def. Akron, 31-28 (Akron, Ohio - Oct. 1, 2022)

Akron is meeting Bowling for the 32nd time in program history with the Falcons owning a 21-10 series advantage. BGSU is on a three-game winning streak, claiming a 27-20 win in Akron (2024), 31-28 win in Akron (2022) and a 41-14 win in Bowling Green (2023). Akron won the previous two contests with a come-from-behind 35-20 triumph (2021) in Bowling Green and a 31-3 victory at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Health Field (2020).

The series between the two schools dates back to the 1941 campaign when Akron earned an 8-0 home victory over Bowling Green. The Zips and Falcons have met every season since 2012.

SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
Under first-year head coach Eddie George, the Falcons currently sit at 3-7 overall and 1-5 in MAC play. BGSU averages 18.5 points per game on 300.3total yards of offense per game. The Falcons attack averages 154.9 yards through the air and 145.4 yards on the ground. Defensively, opponents average 25.8 points on350.6 yards per game, allowing 202.1 yards in the air and 148.5 on the ground.

QB Hunter Najm was behind center last week for the offense, completing 17 of 31 attempts with two interceptions for 207 yards (69.0 avg) and one touchdowns. Jyrin Johnson leads the receiving corps with 383 yards and 38.3 yards per game on 32 receptions and two touchdowns.RJ Garcia II (26-278 yds), Finn Hogan (13-183 yds) and Jacob Harris (15-147 yds, team-high 4 TDs) all support the air attack. RB Chris McMilliam provides the bulk of the work on the ground, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and 38.0 yards per game on 84 attempts for 342 yards with three TDs. Austyn Dendy shares the groundwork with 59 carries for 268 yards (89.3 yards per game and 4.5per rush) with three TDs.

Defensively, BGSU generated 59 tackles for loss of 187 yards with 15 sacks (94 yds). Gideon Lampron paces the defense with 100 tackles with a team-best 14.0 TFL (38 yds) and 1.5 sacks (13 yds) . Cal-El Pascal with 69 tackles, 2.5 TFL (5 yds) and one INT. Myles Bradley leads the unit with a team-high 4.0 sacks (18 yds) and 4.5 TFL (19 yards) while recording 13 total tackles.

AKRON NAMES CAPTAINS FOR THE 2025 CAMPAIGN
The Zips elected senior QB Ben Finley (Phoenix, Ariz.) as captain for the second consecutive season. Finley is joined by senior OL Colin Lyons (McKeesport, Pa.), junior DL Julien Laventure (Upper Darby, Pa.) and sophomore DL Cyrus Durham (Atherton, Ca.) as captains in 2025.

SUMMERS EARNS MAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (Nov. 10)
Gage Summers was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday (Nov. 10).

Summers led the Zips in takeaways for the second week in a row against UMass (Nov. 4), collecting two fumble recoveries taking one of them 25 yards to the house for a defensive touchdown. Summers set new career high marks with his first touchdown and first fumble recovery – and he managed to secure a pair of fumbles. Additionally, Summers registered four tackles with two solo stops.

The prior week against Buffalo (Oct. 25) was a similar story as summers recorded his first interception, and grabbed two of them.

The Akron defense limited the UMass offense to 169 total yards, keeping UMass under 100 yards on both the ground and through the air. The Zips allowed only 92 passing and 77 rushing yards. This was the first time since September 12, 2009, that the Zips kept an opponent under 200 total yards (Morgan State, 127 yrds).

SPRIGGS EARNS MAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (Oct. 27)
Melvin Spriggs was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 27). Spriggs anchored the defensive efforts for the Zips in a 24-16 win over Buffalo (Oct. 25). Akron issued 10 tackles for loss (50 yards) and five sacks (37 yards) to go along with five takeaways. Spriggs paced the Zips defense with a team-high 14 tackles, including 8 solo stops. He led the squad in tackles for loss, generating 3.5 takedowns for loss of 15 yards. Additionally, Spriggs led the team in sacks, recording half of the Zips total with 2.5 sacks for 14 yards of loss. The Zips limited Buffalo to 195 yards of total offense in the second half. In the third quarter, Spriggs accounted for five total tackles and one tackle for loss as the Bulls scored three points on 14 plays and 100 yards. In the fourth quarter, Spriggs again led the way with four total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Buffalo scored three points on 18 plays and 95 yards.

GANT EARNS DOAK WALKER NATIONAL RUNNING BACK OF THE WEEK (Oct.7)
Akron running back Jordan Gant led all FBS players in rushing yards last weekend with his career-high 176 yards and added a receiving touchdown as the Zips defeated Central Michigan 28-22. Gant is the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week.

Gant's 16-yard catch-and-run touchdown with 3:13 left before halftime put Akron (2-4, 1-1) ahead for good at 14-10. He finished with a season-high of 28 receiving yards to total 204 all-purpose yards.

It was a banner effort for the 5-foot-10 redshirt junior from Lakeland, Fla. Gant has posted 100-yard rushing games in two of Akron's last three games and he is now tied for 19th in FBS rushing with 476 yards with three touchdowns. Akron outgained Central Michigan 417-374 and the run game helped them convert 9 of 15 third downs.

Both of Akron's wins have come with Gant topping 100 yards, although his first start didn't come until Sept. 27 at Toledo. His other top game was taking 13 carries for 161 yards and three touchdowns in a Sept. 20 win against Duquesne, a performance that made him the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week. His 5.73 yards per carry on the season (83 attempts) list 42nd nationally. The surge in the past three games for Akron's rushing leader has upped his per-game yardage to 79.3 for the season.

Gant transferred to Akron following three seasons at Tennessee State. In 2024 he appeared in 14 games and rushed for 251 yards on 70 attempts, scoring one rushing touchdown and twice with receptions.

Gant now joins the members of the preseason Doak Walker Award candidates list among the strong group of players vying for the prestigious honor.

GANT EARNS MAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (Sept. 22)
Jordan Gant MAC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday (Sept. 22). Gant anchored the offensive efforts for the Zips in a 51-7 win over Duquesne (Sept. 20). Akron registered 514 yards of total offense, including 265 yards on the ground. Of the 265 rushing yards, Gant was responsible for 161 yards on only 13 carries, recording 12.4 yards per rush. Gant found the endzone three times, scoring 21 of the Zips 51 points. Gant set a career high in all three categories; rushing yards, touchdowns and yards per rushing attempt. Gant scored the initial touchdown of the game on a 17 rush, while PK Owen Wiley buried the PAT, with 8:02 left in the first quarter. Gant found paydirt twice in the second quarter to help give the Zips a commanding 38-0 advantage. His second TD of the game came with 8:34 left in the second frame, finishing a 53-yard drive with a nine-yard rush to the endzone. For his final score of the evening, Gant finished a 7-play, 60-yard drive with an eight-yard rushing touchdown. Wiley made both PATs.

THE ZIPS...
DEFENSIVE STANCE
Akron's defense has shown flashes of real promise in 2025, highlighted by disruptive playmakers across all three levels. The Zips have forced 18 turnovers in 11 games. The defense has also been strong in the red zone, limiting opponents to scores on just 74.3-percent of trips (1st in MAC), including forcing six turnovers inside the 20. As a unit, the Zips' defense has demonstrated the ability to limit big plays and create turnovers, keeping the team competitive in every game. With continued growth and cohesion, Akron's defense is poised to remain a cornerstone of the team's success as the season progresses.

Individually, linebacker Shammond Cooper (60 tackles) and fellow linebacker DiMarco Johnson (48) anchor the middle, combining for 9.8 tackles per game. Defensive back Malcom DeWalt IV has emerged as a difference-maker with 52 tackles, seven breakups, two interceptions, and a pick-six, while corner Elijah Reed has a pair of interceptions and safety Markus Boswell recovered a fumble and took it to the house (44 yds). Up front, Julien Laventure and have provided steady pressure as Leventure leads the squad in TFL with 10 for 50 yards with 3.5 sacks (22 yds), while Dull has 8.5 tackles for loss (38 yds) and four sacks (25 yds), giving Akron a proven disruptors on the defensive line. The defensive line posted five sacks against Central Michigan and Buffalo, recording 23 for the season with a loss of 149 yards. Dull (4-25 yds), Laventure (3.5-22 yds) , Cyrus Durham (3-10 yds), Melvin Spriggs (2.5-14 yds), Gage Summers (1.5-11 yds) and seven players with one sack and three with 0.5 sacks.

OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
The University of Akron Zips' 2025 offense has shown real promise, highlighted by strong individual performances. QB Ben Finley has been the offensive cornerstone, leading the team with 2,299 passing yards, including 252-yard, three-touchdown outing against Central Michigan, 291-yard outburst with three TD's against Ball State, 230-yard effort with three touchdowns against Buffalo, 197-yard, 28-rushing (7.0 per carry) with two passing TDs and rushing TD against UMass. His last outing, Finley went for 424 yards passing with three of TDs and caught a 2-pt. conversion.

RB Jordan Gant has emerged as a dynamic force in the backfield. After transferring from Tennessee State, Gant has accumulated 946 rushing yards, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. His breakout performance came in Week 6 against Central Michigan, where he rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown, earning him the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week honor. Gant has rushed for 150+ yards in three games this season, including a 153 yards and two touchdowns against UMass. Sean Patrick has also contributed for the RB room (68 att, 270 yds, 4.0/rush, 1 TD, 25 yd long, 30 yds/g).

WR Marcel Williams leads the receiving corps with 567 yards and two TDs. WRs Kyan Mason (464 yds, 5 TDs) an Israel Polk (440 yds, 7 TDs), while the TE room is productive in the passing game, scoring three TDs and supporting the offense: Conner Cravaack (18-147 yds, 2TDs) and Max Whisner (4-36 yd, TD) and Jake Newell (4-14 yds). The O-Line faced challenges early, but has held ground as of late to establish a consistent running game and protecting the quarterback.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Akron's special teams have been a consistent strength in 2025, providing the Zips with strong field position and momentum. P Joseph Castle averages 42.8 yards per punt, with 10 kicks over 50 yards and 15 pinned inside the 20-yard line. Brayden Johnson adds depth, averaging 39.9 yards per punt. In the return game, Brandon Hills leads with 564 yards on 24 returns (23.5-yard average), including a long of 41 yards. Terence Thomas contributes with 48 yards on two returns (24.0-yard average), highlighted by a 25-yard return. Sean Patrick has handled punt returns, posting a 7.0-yard average with a long of 15. On the kicking front, Owen Wiley and Matthew Schramm are a combined 12-of-19 on field goals, including a 8-9 effort from Schramm. Akron is 26-for-27 on PATs. With strong punting, reliable returns, and dependable placekicking, Akron's special teams have been a dependable strength and a unit the Zips can continue to lean on.

WHO IS WEARING NO. 1
Senior WR Myles Walker and junior DL Julien Laventure and have emerged as leaders under fourth-year head coach Joe Moorhead and the duo was recently rewarded with the No. 1 jerseys for 2025.

Under Moorhead at Akron, head strength and conditioning coach Orie Sahlfeld identifies one player on each side of the ball that demonstrated their leadership both on and off the field over the course of the spring to earn the privilege of wearing the No. 1 jersey in the Akron Blue and Gold for the 2025 season.

"Coach Moorhead and I spoke about performance and leadership and all the qualities you want in someone in an elite or leadership position," said Sahlfeld. "They earned it all the way from January being accountable, holding their teammates to higher standards, doing all the little things right on a day-to-day basis and being consistent. They have a voice on the team and when they talk people listen. Both are the leaders on their side of the ball when it comes to holding their teammates accountable, having a high standard for themselves and their teammates and bringing people with them and picking people up when they're having bad days."

UP NEXT
The 2025 campaign concludes and the Zips will get ready for spring season.